Comment on ~BrendanKeeley[top] [parent]

hi welcome to da!!! hope you have a good time here, see ya later, cant wait for more deviations from you...bye

~suzaku

--
98% of the population of DeviantArt put these stupid fucking things in their signatures telling some useless statistic that no one cares about. STOP IT. and for the record, im one of the 98% who get stoned.

=o You have a killer gallery, and I must stalk you. o_o Effective immediatly.

--
"If You're Emo and You Know It - Grow A Fringe!"

Wow... my very own stalker.

New deviations should be up soon, hope you like 'em.

Heya Brendan. I've been following your MAG entries for a good while, you have a great sense of humour. Glad ya got a deviantArt account. *stalk-ify*

Hiya Aora! I'm glad to see that one of my MAG friends has found their way to my vault of insane scribblings.

I always wonder just what people thing of my MAG submissions? ( of which there have been quite a few over the years ) When they see my name on the list of entries, do they think to themselves "Hey, great! It's another one of his amusing comic entries! I can't wait to read this!" or am I a compleate unknown? Perhaps if I posted things in the forum more often?

As for a deviantart account, yeah, I should have got one sometime ago, but it was just a case of getting round to it. All it took was one day when I had a cold and couldn't draw...

Mmm..I couldn't possibly speculate much on whether you're a famous MAG-goer or not, I'm afraid, since I'm not really super-active in the MAG community either. No forum account, I suppose I should get around to getting one some day. I always look forward to seeing your entries though, they seem to counteract the entries of the characters posing and looking cool,(like mine, I suppose XD) with a more humorous lilt. You invariably end up attracting my creativity vote though - like I said, awesome sense of humour.

As a cartoonist, I always assume that the idea or joke is the most important part of any submission. Then again, if I just drew a picture of the main character/s posing and trying to look cool, I probably wouln't get any votes at all. ( that might be worth trying actually, just to see what happens )

Thanks for the votes, by the way. I really apreciate it. It is always nice to have some support. I don't actually vote for anyone myself...

How on earth did you get into freelance art? I'm finding it incredibly difficult myself.

--
'I do not believe totality can be contained in language: my problem is what remains outside, the unwritten, the unwritable.' ~ Italo Calvino

Original fiction: [link]
Fanfiction: [link]

First off, let me warn you that while I am a free-lance artist, I am by no means rich or successful. I make enough money to support my art, but not alot else. So, although my advice may not lead to a life of plentiful riches, I am more than happy to give it.

It is a sad fact that lots of people want to be cartoonists/artists/illustrators, but there aren't enough jobs for everyone. While one artist may become famous and successful, hundreds won't. Their success has a lot to do with luck, and not as much to do with tallent as they would like to think. The trick is to maximise your chances.

I simple try to submit my work to as many different venues as possible, in the hope that one will offer me some money. All you have to do is make a list of the places who want your type of art, and bombard them with submissions. For eample, if you are a political cartoonist, go into WHSmiths ( or similar store ) and make a list of all the magazines that have political cartoons in them ( private eye, the oldie, the economist etc. ) and keep sending things to them, eventually one will take some of your work.

Personally, I am very lucky in the fact that many of my friends and relatives are either published authors, or trying to become published authors, which gives me a ready supply of work. It might be worthwhile teaming up with a writer, and agreeing to illustrate their books.

Finally, make use of any spare time you have. When I am not working on a commissioned project ( which is most of the time ^_^ ) I set up a stall at various local craft fairs, where I sell prints of my artwork and draw charicatures. While the income this geneates is relativly small, ( especially after printing costs, transport costs, etc. ) it all adds up, and is more profitable than sitting around wating for someone to come to you with a commission.

Well, I hope this helps. I wish you luck, and hope you career makes you a great deal more money than mine makes me.

--
I dress like a victorian gentleman because I am one. Damn you twenty first century!